Animal Health Technologist
OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Who is the licensing body responsible for Animal Health Technologist’s in Alberta?
- What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Animal Health Technologist’s (AHT's)?
- Additional Occupational Information
- What information resources are available for Animal Health Technologists in Alberta?
Who is the licensing body responsible for Animal Health Technologist’s in Alberta?
In Alberta, to practice as an Animal Health Technologist, you must be registered with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) and be a member of the Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists (AAAHT)
What are the registration requirements for internationally educated Animal Health Technologist’s (AHT's)?
If an applicant is not a graduate of a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association accredited program, application must be made to NAIT for the AHT Equivalency Assessment Service:
- The NAIT Equivalency Assessment will cover four areas:
- Educational/Credential Assessment:
Upon receiving the documents detailing your formal education in areas of animal health, animal studies, etc. NAIT will compare the curriculum completed to curriculum completed by a graduate of a full time Animal Health Technology or Veterinary Technology program accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. http://www.nait.ca/docs/Education_Assessment_Application.pdf
- English Language Component:
All candidates are required to communicate effectively in English and provide proof of such. Therefore, NAIT will accept any of 5 standard English competency examinations: IBTOEFL, IELTS, CAEL, BELAB, University of Alberta ESL 140/145. (http://www.nait.ca/docs/English_language_component__2_.pdf)
Please visit http://www.ETS.org to register for the internet based TOEFL evaluation as our preferred standard of evaluation.
- General Veterinary Knowledge (GVK) Exam:
This exam is to evaluate your knowledge base and education in 7 key areas of animal health including anaesthesia, pharmacology, surgical and medical animal nursing, anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and laboratory procedures. The GVK exam is offered on an as needed basis. Please apply and you will be contacted with available dates. Satisfactory educational evaluation and English Proficiency exam required prior to the General Veterinary Knowledge Exam. (http://www.nait.ca/docs/GVK_Exam_Application.pdf)
- Clinical Skills Proficiency Evaluation: (http://www.nait.ca/docs/Clinical_Skills_application.pdf)
i. Candidates will be evaluated in the following:
1. Basic Skills
2. Small Animal Skills
3. Large Animal Skills
- Applicants with a NAIT Certificate of Completion must then successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
- Applicants may be eligible for a Provisional AHT Membership with the ABVMA while waiting to write the VTNE, and may be able to work in a veterinary practice. (http://www.abvma.ca/)
- AHT members of the ABVMA must also become members of the Association of Alberta Animal Health Technologists. (www.aaaht.com)
Additional Occupational Information
To become registered as an Animal Health Technologist (AHT) in
1. Graduated from a Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), or the American Veterinary Medical Association (AmVMA) accredited technology program.
2. If not from an accredited technology program, complete the NAIT AHT Equivalency Assessment.
3. Successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). (http://www.aavsb.org/VTNE/)
In
- Grande Prairie Regional College in Fairview.
- Lakeland College in Vermilion.
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.
- Olds College in Olds.
For more information on occupational duties and wages, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and search for Animal Health Technologist under occupational information.
What information resources are available for Animal Health Technologists in Alberta?
EDinfo website: www.alis.gov.ab.ca/edinfo
Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists (AAAHT) website: www.aaaht.com
Canadian Association of Animal Health Technologists and Technicians (CAAHTT) website: http://www.mahta.ca/caahtt.aspx
